Electric connecter device



y 1935 v. I. CRUSER fi y ELECTRIC CONNECTER DEVIVCE Fil ed Jan. 31, 1954F/G4 FIGS INVEN TOR Ml. @RUSE A TTO/P/VEV Patented Dec. 24, 1935 UNITEDSTAT FATNT QFFICE ELECTEEQ CQNNEGTE'E QEVECE Victor 1. Crnser, EastOrange, N. 5., assignsr to Bell Telephone Laboratories,

Incorporated,

3 Claims.

This invention relates to electric connecter devices.

The object of this invention is the provision of a multi-contactconnecter of the quick-de- 5 tachable type which will be simple, cheapto manufacture and efficient in operation.

According to this invention, a multi-contact connecter of thequick-detachable type is formed by mounting terminal members in spacedrela- 1 tion between strips of insulating material which are creased insubstantially Zig-zag formation on indicated lines along their length insuch a manner that the folds of one strip interfit the folds of theother strip, with the terminals of one 15 strip engaging the terminalsof the other strip. A clamping device is provided for forcing theterminals of the pile-up thus formed into interengaged relation with aconsiderable contact pressure, while permitting their disengagement bythe simple loosening of a clamping screw,

the clamping device being adjustable for receiving a variable number ofterminals in each strip.

Other features of the invention and advantages will appear from thefollowing description and by the claims appended thereto, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a portion of a contact strip;

Fig. 2 is a view showing two contact strips creased at points indicatedby the dot-and-dash line shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the clamping device used for securingthe contact strips in engaged relation;

v) Fig. 4 is a view showing the contact strips and the clamping devicein assembled relation with portions of the clamping device cut away; and

Fig. 5 is a front assembly View.

As shown in the drawing, the strip of contact assembly X comprises thesheets of pliable insulating material iii and H provided for securing aplurality of terminals l6 and ii disposed in staggered relation atpredetermined intervals therebetween.

Insulating sheet ii is provided with apertures such as 53 shown in Fig.l, which may be of any desired shape for receiving similarly shapedcontact portions Hi, l5 embossed or in any way formed with the terminals15, ii. These con- 5G tact portions protrude a relatively small distanceabove the surface of strip H for engaging associated contacts carried byanother similar strip Xi shown in Fig. 2 in a manner that will behereinafter described in detail. The spaced relation of terminals I 6,I! along the strips l0 and H is such that when two similar strips X, XIare creased in substantially zig-zag formation at points indicated bythe dot-and-dash lines shown in Fig. l the contact portions it and I5 ofthe terminals 5% and ii in strip X may be engaged 5 with the contactportions I l, lb of terminals l6 and ii in strip Xi, as shown in Figs. 2and 4. These contacts are held in their engaged relation by a clampingdevice Y, shown in Figs. 3, i, and 5 in the form of two telescopicallyen- 10 gagcable U-shaped members i8 and IS. The sides of element 49 ofthis clamping device are each provided with a row of indentures such as23 and ii, adapted to be engaged by ratchetshaped teeth 22 and 23carried by its complement element 58, the number of indentures in thesides of element iii being dependent upon the height of the terminalpile-up and therefore the number of terminals it, 5'. in strips X, XIrespectively.

A screw is preferably carried by element i 8 of the clamping device,having its end bearing against a metal plate 58 is provided forcompressing the terminal pile-up thus formed for holding the contactportions t l, 55 of the ter- 25 minals it, ii in engaged relation witheach other with considerable contact pressure, while making possible toeasily and quickly disconnect these contacts without necessitating themaking of any soldered wire connections to the terminals 16 and I"?carried by strips X and Xi.

The element It of the clamping device is provided at its base withoppositely disposed lugs 25 and 26 for securing the clamping device on asupporting base 2'5 by a number of screws, shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

In the use of the multi-contact quick detachable connecter of th s iivention, incoming wires are secured as by sonering to the notched endsof terminals it and ii of the strip X and the outgoing wires soldered tothe notched ends of the terminals H3 and ill of the other strip Xi sothat upon the creasing of the strips as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, thecontact portions I 4 of terminals it of the strip X will engage thecontact portions 5 3- of terminals E6 of the other strip X! with thecontact portions [5 of terminals ll of strip XI engaging the contactportions l5 of the terminals ii of strip X after which these strips areplaced in the clamping device shown in Fig. 4 formed by the U-shapedtelescopic engageable members is and i9 and the screw 24 tightened forsecuring the proper contact pressure between the contacting portions i iand I5 of terminals i6 and ii of each strip.

gaging the terminals of the other strip,

According to this construction the incoming wires connected to theterminals I6 and H of strip X may be collectively disengaged from theoutgoing wires connected to contacts l6 and I! of strip XI upon theloosening of their tightening screw 24 and the subsequent disengagementof element l8 of the clamping device from element l9 and this as abovementioned without making necessary the breaking of any solderedconnection.

What is claimed is:

1. In a multi-contact connecter device,a pair of insulating stripsfolded in substantially zig-zag formation, a plurality of terminalmembers carried by said strips, the terminals of one strip enand meansfor holding said terminals in engaged relation.

2. In a multi-contact connecter device, a pair of insulating stripsfolded in substantially zig-zag formation, a plurality of terminalsembedded in said strips and having contact portions protruding throughthe surface thereof, the terminals of one strip engaging the terminalsof the other strip, and a clamping device for holding said terminals inengaged relation.

3. In a multi-contact connecter device, a pair of insulating stripsfolded in substantiallyzig-zag formation, a plurality of terminalmembers carried by said strips, the terminals of one strip engaging theterminals of the other strip, and means for holding said terminals inengaged re lation, said means being adjustable for holding a variablenumber of terminals in each of said strips. 7

VICTOR I. CRUSER.

